A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered on Friday, ruled that the matter relates to the internal affairs of the political party and therefore falls outside the jurisdiction of the court.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/13331/2025, was filed by Dumebi Kachikwu and four other plaintiffs, who had challenged the leadership positions held by Mark and Aregbesola in the ADC.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik upheld the preliminary objections filed by counsel to the ADC, Mark, and Aregbesola, agreeing that the court lacked the authority to intervene in the party’s internal matters.

The judge held that issues relating to party membership and leadership are non-justiciable, stressing that political parties are voluntary associations whose internal affairs should be resolved within their established mechanisms.

The defendants in the case included the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Justice Abdulmalik further emphasised that membership of a political party is voluntary and that aggrieved members should utilise internal dispute resolution mechanisms provided by the party. She added that dissatisfied members also have the option of leaving the party to join another political platform.

The court consequently declined jurisdiction and dismissed the suit.